One in seven representing 14% of Africans pay bribe to obtain the needed heath care services, the latest Afrobarometer report has said.

The report, which was released today, April 7, 2016, comes on the back of World Health Day being marked globally today.

The new report, titled “Despite gains, barriers keep health care high on Africa’s priority list,” is based on nearly 54,000 interviews in 36 African countries in 2014/2015.

According to the report, citizens across 36 African countries have ranked health care as their second-most-important national problem and priority for additional government investment.

The findings said public ratings of government performance in improving basic health services have worsened over the past decade with almost half of Africans saying their government is doing “fairly” or “very” badly.

Findings also revealed that in 36 countries, Afrobarometer fieldworkers found health clinics in 62% of all survey enumeration areas (EAs).

Also, Urban EAs (74%) are more likely to have clinics than rural zones (53%) and that almost half (49%) of all Africans say they or a family member had to go without medicine or medical care “once or twice,” “several times,” “many times,” or “always”, the report said.

The report added that “Among those who accessed health care during the previous year, four in 10 (42%) found it “difficult” or “very difficult” to get the care they needed. One in seven (14%) of those who accessed health services paid a bribe or did a favour to obtain the needed service."

It also emerged that across 18 countries tracked since 2005, negative evaluations have increased by 13 percentage points over the past decade.

Do you ever witness news or have a story that should be featured on Pulse Ghana?Submit your stories, pictures and videos to us now via WhatsApp: +233507713497, Social Media @pulseghana: #PulseEyewitness & DM or Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh.